Under pressure: how Izzy Farr deals with Stress in Engineering

They say that stress can be found in many jobs, but for Izzy Farr, it’s her primary concern in the daily work she undertakes at Enstone. But we’re not talking about mental tension - rather, the forces and pressure exerted on a material object. In Alpine’s engineering office, Izzy is responsible for stress testing components to ensure there is minimal risk of them breaking on track. Her main focus is on suspension, and its mathematical testing - or Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

“Everything I do is in computer simulation,” explains Izzy, Junior Stress Engineer for BWT Alpine Formula One Team. “So I will make a part into a mesh and then will simulate the forces this object might experience in the real world. For example. I primarily work on suspension, so I will build a model of the whole corner - the wheel, axle and upright - and I’ll simulate what I think will happen in braking, cornering or over a kerb. If parts are composite or we are working with new materials, we will have that part built up and tested for real to see if the simulations are accurate.”

The analysis can also help with performance, as understanding the loads on a component can assist with design - and potentially, mass can be removed to improve lap time.

After excelling in maths and physics at school, Izzy chose to study engineering and gained a scholarship through the Royal Academy of Engineering. While speaking to female engineers who worked in F1, she was inspired to apply for a placement at Alpine and worked in the stress department. After finishing her course in 2024, she returned to Enstone, where she has been employed for the past year.

“I always wanted to work in Formula One, ever since I was a child. I just loved it,” says Izzy. “And what I’ve learnt since I’ve been here is that from the outside, F1 sometimes seems impossible to get into - but it’s not like that, it’s truly accessible to anyone who aspires to work in the industry.”

Since starting at Enstone, Izzy has helped establish the Women In Motorsport group and is part of the team that organises an outreach day for the annual International Women in Engineering Day, which falls on June 23 each year.

“We get a group from a school, around aged 11, to come in and do some practical work - simplified drawing and assembly kits, like a brake pedal. So they get to hold real parts, use tools, and hear from various female role models,” says Izzy.

“Last year we did a powerful thing where they had to draw an engineer, a mechanic and a driver - and most of them drew men. The point of the day is to challenge that. For me, INWED is important to reflect on the progress we have made so far and to highlight the fact we need more women to inspire the next generation.”